The number of University of British Columbia graduates will hit the quarter million mark at this year’s Fall Congregation at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
This milestone coincides with UBC’s preparations to celebrate the forthcoming centenary of the Province of B.C.’s University Act, which was passed in 1908.
In addition, UBC will be granting an honorary degree to UBC alumnus and former B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt for his distinguished career achievements and service to UBC and to Canada. (Wed. Nov. 21, 4 p.m.)
Note to editors: Media authorization is required to attend Congregation ceremonies in the Chan Centre. Please contact Lorraine Chan at 604.822.3213 to arrange media coverage.
Dates/Times: Wednesday, Nov. 21; Thursday, Nov. 22, at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Place: The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Rd.
More than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students will receive degrees from all 12 faculties at the Fall Congregation ceremony.
The 250,000th alumnus will join a distinguished community that includes renowned author Pierre Berton (BA 1941), philanthropist and owner of Ekati Diamond Mine Stewart Blusson (BSc 1960), former Prime Minister John Turner (BA 1949), the late Thomas Ladner (BA 1937), prominent lawyer, and the late Tommy Shoyama (BA 1938, BCom 1938), who helped create universal health care as a deputy minister in Manitoba.
Numbering among notable young alumni are Nazanin Afshin-Djam (BA 2002), a former Miss World Canada and international human rights activist noted for her opposition to child executions in Iran and Blake Hanacek (BSGR 2003), the founder of AGRO Café, a sustainable, fair trade, organic coffee roaster that partners with an NGO which he founded in Kenya to improve the businesses and lives of small coffee farmers.
Background
Honorary Degree Recipient
Mike Harcourt, a two-time UBC alumnus (BA 1965, LLB 1968), served as the 30th Premier of the province of British Columbia in Canada from 1991 to 1996 and also as the mayor of Vancouver from 1980 to 1986. His political, academic and personal work has focused on issues of conservation and sustainability. Harcourt became a highly respected disability advocate after a devastating injury left him partially paralyzed in 2002. Harcourt’s full bio is available at: www.graduation.ubc.ca/honorarydegrees.
UBC Alumni Demographics
The majority of UBC alumni live in B.C., with 61 per cent on the Lower Mainland and 19 per cent in other parts of the province. For the remainder of alumni, 12 per cent of alumni reside in other Canadian provinces; four per cent live in the U.S.; and four per cent have international addresses.
Webcast: The webcast of all ceremonies and schedule of events can be found at www.graduation.ubc.ca.
Congregation Parking: Graduates and their guests may park free of charge at all parkades on campus during Congregation. (Meter and automated lots are not included.)
Conveniently located parkades include: The Rose Garden Parkade located adjacent to the Chan Centre off Northwest Marine Dr., the North Parkade (enter at Gate 2 off Wesbrook Mall); and the Fraser Parkade (enter at Gate 4 off Northwest Marine Dr.)
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